Tag Archives: A Little Girl Can’t Own a Horse Without Having Riding Outfits to Match

Our little girl turned 10 and had a birthday wish of at least being able to ride horses all summer. She did not start with the, “I want a pony” request. It was just to ride. I thought she was too small to ride a horse, but a local place that teaches kids and adults how to ride said she would be fine. They put her on a newly trained horse that the business owner said was “calm.” I sure wasn’t. Well, our little girl now has a full season of riding experience and two new equestrian riding jackets along with pants, boots, hats, gloves and more. Getting her own saddle was something I thought we would have to take a loan out for. She was really wanting a used one a riding friend had for sale, so that saved us a fortune.

Then the question came. She had been riding the same horse all summer long. She wanted to buy him and keep him for her own. She had a breakdown of all the costs including food and veterinary care. I was wondering why she just did not have an interest in getting a puppy instead. Her breakdown of costs to own a horse showed her putting in all of her babysitting and other money. She was not keeping a cent for herself. We could not let her do that. My wife and I ran the numbers, and we were able to get a no-interest loan for the purchase of the horse. Well, for half the horse. My parents paid a fourth, and my wife’s parents paid a fourth. My parents then loaned us the half we had to come up with.

We had the loan paid back within the year, and that was two equestrian riding jackets ago. I think the equestrian wardrobe might be setting us back almost as much as the horse! I’m just kidding. My wife buys the clothing online at an outfitter of riders of horses that offers great quality at a nice price.